Supreme Court to inquire police transfers

[TamilNet, Thursday, 08 November 2001, 16:45 GMT]The Supreme Court Thursday decided to inquire into the fundamental rights application filed by the Deputy Leader of the main opposition United National Party Mr.Karu Jayasuriya, against the transfer of 74 police officers by the Inspector General of Police within forty eight hours of the dissolution of parliament last month. Mr.Karu Jayasuriya has prayed in his application that all the police transfers effected after the dissolution of parliament is cancelled.

Mr.Jayasuriya has cited the Inspector General of Police as the respondent.

When the FR application was taken up before the Supreme Court Thursday, Mr.Salim Marsook, Deputy Solicitor General who appeared for the Inspector General of Police moved court that a date should be given to file objection to the application.

The Supreme Court gave the State a short date to file objection stating that this was an urgent matter of national importance. The SC fixed the inquiry next Monday.

Mr.Karu Jayasuriya filed this FR application on October 24 when the Inspector General of Police defied the instructions of the Commissioner of Elections that all police transfers effected after the dissolution of parliament be suspended.

The IGP said that the Election Commissioner had no power to direct him to suspend the police transfers. The Election Commissioner of Election also later said that he had no powers to enforce his instructions.